Filing device



March 29, 1932. B. G. RAND FILING DEVICE Filed Nov. 12, 1928 l'zvezzlor mu: 6- Edit/d tianz Patented Mar. 29, 1932' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEv BENJAMIN (in RAND, OF ITOB'IH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10 REMINGTON RAND INC-{OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK FILING DEVICE Application filed November 12, 1928. Serial No. 818,731.

This invention relates to a device for filing correspondence, papers, or the like, and it has particular reference to a filing devlce including aplurality of movable flexible receiving members and also provided with means to securethe receiving members within predetermined limits.

There has heretofore been proposed a filing device including a plurality of movable flexible receivin members, as exemplified by the patent to F leld, No. 1,524,348, patented Jan. 27, 1925. According to that patent, there is provided a file drawer containing spaced horizontal rails between which are suspended a number of folds of flexible material, each of which serves as a filing compartment. In practicing the invention set forth in this patent, it has been found that the several compartments are apt to be distorted or improperly spaced, due to an uneven distribution of papers in the compartments.-

To overcome this objection, and others, with the attendant inefficiency in operation and use, the present invention contemplates the provision of means for limiting the movement or play of any compartment or group of compartments, such as those described, in order toprevent the weight of the contents of any compartment from distorting the file as a whole.

Further objects and advantages will be understood from a perusal of the following description of a structure embodying the principles of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the complete assembly, 7

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a retaining bar,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a locking bar, and

Fig. 4 is a schematic view indicating a method of application of the invention.

The filing device shown in Fig. 1 which may be constructed as shown in the abovementioned Field patent comprises a box or drawer 10 containing a frame of wire 11 including spaced horizontal side rails 12 and downwardly extending supporting legs 13 at the ends thereof. Supported upon and disposed between the side rails 12 are a number of strips 14, each of which has one side edge formed with a notch adjacent each end,

the outer side edges of said notches being undercut. The strips 14 are inserted in the frame 11 by bowing the frame, so that they may be sprung into place with the undercut portions of the notches 15 engaging the outer sides of the rails 12, thereby securing the strips'agains't accidental removal but permitting movement of the strips along the rails. Secured to each strip 14 is a sheet of flexible material extending loosely to the adjacent strip to provide a fold or compartment 16 for the reception of correspondence or other matter. In employing this structure, it will be understood that the several pockets 16 may receive varying amounts of correspondence and that they may be opened or closed by moving the strips 14 along the rails 12.

According to the present invention, there is additionally provided a device or number of devices for limiting the movement of any strip or strips within predetermined limits, which may vary within wide distances. These devices prevent the filing compartments from spreading an undue amount, and further provide means for dividing the file into a number of sections containing any desired numbers of compartments. As illustrated, the device consists of a pair of connected bars extending between the rails 11, one of which, 17, (the retaining bar) is similar in construction to the strips 14. In fact any one of the strips 14 may be employed as an element of the securing device, thus forming the securing device as a portion of a compartment 16.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the retaining bar is formed of a flat strip having an undercut notch 18 formed in its lower edge at either end, each notch providing a re-entrant foot 19 on the lower side of the bar. The distance between the centers of the notches 18 on the same bar is such that the feet 19 nest snugly against the rails 12, tending to draw them inwardly. This effect is accomplished by making the distance between the centers of the notches 18 a trifle less than the normal distance between the centers-of the rails 12.

The bars 17 are assembled on the rails by bowing the rails inwardly, springing the bars 17 in place, and releasing the pressure. The rails therefore tend to separate the ends of the bar 17 and so place it under a slight tension.

A recess 21 is formed in the mid-portion of the bar 17 'to receive a threaded rivet or screw 22 projecting from the bar 17 toward the locking bar 23, shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The locking bar 23 is also formed with an aperture 24 in its mid portion for the reception of the screw 22, WhlCh is provided on its projecting end with a wing nut 25 by means of which the central portion of bars 17 and 23 may be drawn together. Each end of the bar' 23 is recessed to provide a shoulder 26 having a su portin tongue 27 on its upper side, but, unli (e the bar 17, the shoulders 26 are not necessarily provided with an undercut portion.

The bar 23 is formed of material more flexible than the bar 17 and is so dimensioned that the distance between the shoulders 26 is reater than the distance between the rails 12.

en the bar 23 is positioned between the necting these strips to form pockets for corv respondence provide what may be termed sectionalizing members or units which are adjustable on the bars supporting the strips to vary the size of the pockets or compartments between the strips. It is to be understood that any type of construction adapted for insertion in a file drawer for dividing the drawer into a plurality of com artments in which the elements are adjusta 1e in the drawer to vary the size of the com artments may be used in conjunction with t e locking device illustrated and described herein, the reference to the Field patent and the illustration of the structure shown in this patent being merely for the purpose of disclosing the type of construction with which the locking device cooperates in order that the expansion of the sectionalizing members or units may be limited to a desired extent.

From the foregoing description, it will now be apparent that one or more securing devices ma be positoned within the file and so serve to ivide the compartments into selected groups or sections, and also limit'the freeom of movement or play'in any compartment'. Various modifications in the specific construction shown may be made, of course, within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A filing device comprising a plurality of relatively movable sectionalizing units, a support for said units, and means movable with respect to the units on the support for fixing the position of any compartment with respect to the support within predetermined limits.

2. A filing device including a pair of spaced horizontal supporting rails, a plurality of strips extending between the rails to form compartments, and a securing bar adapted to be positioned adjacent any strip to limit the movement thereof within predetermined limits.

3. A filing device including a pair of spaced horizontal supporting rails, a plurality of strips extending between the rails and mounted thereon for movement along the rails, folds of flexible material loosely extending between adjacent strips to provide filing compartments, and means movable with respect to the rails and the strips for limitirig the movement of said strips along the rai s.

4. A filing device including a plurality of relatively movable sectionalizing members and means for limiting the movement of said members, said means including a movable member adapted to be locked in a redetermined position with respect to sai sectionalizing members.

5. A filing device including a pair of fixed horizontal supporting rails, a plurality of strips mounted for sliding movement along the rails, folds of flexible material extending between the strips to provide compartments, a retaining bar extending between the rails, and a locking bar of greater length than the retaining bar secured to the retaining bar and extending between the rails.

'6. A filing device including a pair of spaced horizontal supporting rails, a plural-' ity of strips notched at their ends for engagement with the rails, folds of flexible material loosely extending between adjacent strips to form compartments, and a locking device for securing any one of said strips within predetermined limits, said locking device comprising a bar of flexible material formed with recesses for engagement with the rails, said locking bar being of greater length between the recesses than the distance between the rails, and means for expanding the locking bar against the rails to prevent the movement thereof and to limit the movement of said strip.

7. A filing device including a pair of spaced horizontal supporting rails, notched strips disposed between the rails for sliding movement therealong, folds of flexible material disposed between the strips and forming compartments, and a locking device for ositionmg the strips and compartments, said ocking device including a bar formed with notches extending between the rails, said bar being under tension, a bar adjacent the tension bar and disposed between the rails, said last-named bar being under compression, and

a connection between the tension bar'and compression bar.

BENJAMIN G. RAND. 

